What schedule is paracetamol and ibuprofen?
Paracetamol can be Schedule 0, 1, 2 or 3 and ibuprofen Schedule 0 to 2 depending on strength, pack and form. How to tell which one you have.
It depends on the pack, strength and form
Paracetamol and ibuprofen show why a medicine does not have a single schedule. Small packs of standard paracetamol tablets are Schedule 0 and can be sold in supermarkets, while other forms move to higher schedules. Oral ibuprofen is never Schedule 0; only a low-strength topical gel is. Always read the S number on the exact box.
How the schedules split
- Paracetamol – Schedule 0: tablets of 500 mg or less in packs of up to 12,5 g paracetamol, or syrup of 120 mg/5 mL or less in up to 100 mL.
- Paracetamol – Schedule 1: other oral packs.
- Paracetamol – Schedule 2: suppositories and modified-release products. Injection is Schedule 3.
- Ibuprofen – Schedule 0: topical gel of 5% or less in packs of 50 g or less only.
- Ibuprofen – Schedule 1: oral packs of 24 dosage units or fewer, as the only active ingredient, with an adult daily dose of 1,2 g or less. Other oral ibuprofen sits in a higher schedule.
Medicines discussed here:
Paracetamol — Panado, Painamol, Tylenol, Pacimol
Mild to moderate pain; fever
Ibuprofen — Nurofen, Brufen, Advil, Ibupain
Mild to moderate pain; inflammation; fever; dysmenorrhoea
Avoid doubling up
- Check the active ingredients on every cold, flu and pain product you use.
- Do not take two products that both contain paracetamol.
- Follow the maximum daily dose on the label.
- Ask a pharmacist before ibuprofen if you have kidney disease, stomach ulcers, asthma or are pregnant.
Paracetamol overdose can be silent
Common questions
- What schedule is paracetamol in South Africa?
- Standard paracetamol tablets of 500 mg or less in small packs are Schedule 0. Other oral packs are Schedule 1, suppositories and modified-release forms Schedule 2, and injection Schedule 3.
- Is ibuprofen over the counter in South Africa?
- Small oral packs are Schedule 1 pharmacy medicines, so you buy them at a pharmacy without a prescription. Only low-strength topical gel is Schedule 0.
Sources
- Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965, and SAHPRA scheduling guidanceSouth African Health Products Regulatory Authority
- Medicines Online Directory and approved patient information leafletsSouth African Health Products Regulatory Authority
- Poisons Information Helpline guidanceTygerberg and Red Cross Poisons Information Centres
Sources last checked 6 October 2026.